James Glendenning

OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Independent investigation into the
death of Mr James Glendenning,
a prisoner at HMP Manchester,
on 29 October 2023
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Third Floor, 10 South Colonnade Email: mail@ppo.gov.uk T l 020 7633 4100
Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU Web: www.ppo.gov.uk
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
© Crown copyright, 2026
This report is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0. To view this licence,
visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3
Where we have identified any third-party copyright information you will need to obtain permission
from the copyright holders concerned.
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
1. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman aims to make a significant contribution to
safer, fairer custody and community supervision. One of the most important ways in
which we work towards that aim is by carrying out independent investigations into
deaths, due to any cause, of prisoners, young people in detention, residents of
approved premises and detainees in immigration centres.
2. If my office is to best assist His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) in
ensuring the standard of care received by those within service remit is appropriate,
our recommendations should be focused, evidenced and viable. This is especially
the case if there is evidence of systemic failure.
3. In November 2018, Mr James Glendenning was sentenced to 23 years in prison for
sexual offences. He died in hospital of a stroke on 29 October 2023, while a
prisoner at HMP Manchester. He had been taken to hospital the day before, when
he was found on the floor of his cell with a head wound. He was 93 years old. We
offer our condolences to Mr Glendenning’s family and friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office contacted Mr Glendenning’s next of kin to explain the
investigation and to ask if they had any matters they wanted us to consider. They
did not respond.
5. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr
Glendenning’s care.
6. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern.
7. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr
Glendenning’s clinical care at HMP Manchester.
8. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Glendenning received at
Manchester was of a reasonable standard and was partially equivalent to that which
he could have expected to receive in the community. She considered that the
management of Mr Glendenning’s cardiovascular disease and his social care was
equivalent but that his dementia care and planning for his risk of falls was not. We
make two recommendations:
The Head of Healthcare should review the care pathways for dementia and
ensure the care provided is in line with NICE clinical guideline: Dementia:
assessment, management and support for people living with dementia and
their carers and RCN Dementia Care Principles for People Living in Prison.
The Head of Healthcare should ensure that ongoing prevention, planning, and
management of falls is undertaken for patients who are not located within the
inpatient healthcare unit in line with NICE clinical guideline: Falls in older
people: assessing risk and prevention and GMMH Prevention and
management of patient falls policy.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
9. We shared our initial report with HMPPS and with the prison’s healthcare provider,
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. They found no factual
inaccuracies. Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust provided
an action plan which is annexed to this report.
Adrian Usher
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman November 2024
Inquest
At the inquest, held on 30 September 2026, the Coroner concluded that Mr Glendenning
died from natural causes.
2 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Third Floor, 10 South Colonnade Email: mail@ppo.gov.uk T l 020 7633 4100
Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU Web: www.ppo.gov.uk
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE